Fountain of Youth Stakes field is set. See the odds for a big Kentucky Derby prep.
Louisville-based trainer Dale Romans has saddled 10 horses in the Kentucky Derby but never finished better than third.
He knows he has a shot this year, and that knowledge feels a little different than usual.
“I’m feeling a lot of pressure. I’m not usually in this situation where I feel pressure. I usually like being the underdog because there’s not much pressure,” Romans said in a Gulfstream Park news release ahead of Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., racetrack. “With this horse, there’s so much hype with him — well deserved, he’s very talented. I put the pressure on myself because of what I think of him. I think he’s ready to roll.”
“This horse” is Dennis’ Moment.
Why the pressure?
Romans’ talented 3-year-old stumbled at the start, never recovered and finished last as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park last November. Dennis’ Moment has not run a race since then but was installed Wednesday as the 2-1 morning-line favorite anyway in a field of 12 for the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth.
The race is worth 50 points to the winner in the Kentucky Derby prep scoring system. Dennis’ Moment has 10 points as a product of his victory in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs last summer but will need more to race on the First Saturday in May.
Dennis’ Moment will race from post-position No. 5 on Saturday. The full Fountain of Youth field, in post-position order with morning-line odds, looks like this: 1. Candy Tycoon (15-1), 2. Makabim (50-1), 3. Masterday (30-1), 4. The Falcon (50-1), 5. Dennis’ Moment (2-1), 6. As Seen On TV (9-2), 7. Country Grammer (15-1), 8. Gear Jockey (20-1), 9. Liam’s Lucky Charm (15-1), 10. Shotski (10-1), 11. Ete Indien (8-1) and 12. Chance It (7-2).
Saturday
Fountain of Youth Stakes
What: Kentucky Derby prep points race (50-20-10-5)
Where: Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
When: 6:04 p.m.
TV: FS2 and TVG
Purse: $400,000 (Grade 2)
Distance: 1 1/16 miles
Favorite: Dennis’ Moment (2-1)